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Albert Camus

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

The Three Month Plan by Kimberley Patterson

Published in September 2013Description:

Kelly Callahan had everything going for her. Everything that is, except for a relationship. It wasn’t for the lack of trying, it just seemed like she was a magnet for all the wrong ones. But all of that was about to change the minute she laid eyes on Jake.
On a dare from her close friend, Michelle, Kelly accepts a challenge to date and become Jake’s girlfriend within three months. The consequence of losing is global humiliation, and she refuses to lose.

Enlisting the help of her childhood friend and confidant, Brian, Kelly manages to catch Jakes attention. She also unknowingly hooks Brian who tries to sabotage the plan. Kelly finds herself with a dilemma; take the final step with Jake and win the plan or follow her heart and reveal her feelings for Brian.

GUEST POST

How blind can we be in finding love?

(MB's topic)

This is such a great question. I think that we all have our own preconceived notions on how love should be. Some of us set a plan for our lives, including our love lives. We date according to this plan, and we try to set our own standard of who we should love, and when.

The problem is, that love doesn't always work that way.

There are so many couples that I have met who knew each other for only a matter of days before getting married, and now have been together twenty plus years. While others, who have planned every detail of their love life, have broken apart after many years because the love itself wasn't there anymore. Sometimes we get so caught up on what our perfect image of love is, that we don't see the real picture directly in front of us.

In my latest book, The Three Month Plan, it highlights this issue perfectly. Kelly, the female lead has failed in all of her relationships. She has dated various types of guys and always played the good girl role. She decides that maybe her lack of finding love is based on the fact that she doesn't break out of that role. She spends so much time searching for that connection, and changes her whole persona just to make a guy like her.

We shouldn't have to change who we are for people to accept us, and truly love us. We are all unique, and beautiful in our own way and once we see that, and love ourselves - we can find our true happiness. Once we give up that search and stop making checklists on what type of guy or girl we should date, we allow ourselves to find the type of love that is meaningful and long lasting, instead of superficial and temporary. And once we find that beautiful love, we can each have our own happy ending.

EXCERPT:

The boardwalk wasn’t as crowded today, but it was still early, and the fog hadn’t yet cleared even though it was afternoon. San Diego fell victim to June gloom every year, and it always seemed to wait until summer had officially started. The patio on the Breakwater Café was the perfect place to sit and people watch and crush on the surplus of college students. It was an eclectic mix of teenagers and twenty-somethings flecked with small families here and there, not to mention this was the only restaurant in the area that had a man-made wave machine. When the sand was empty and the weather still cold, this was a popular hangout. It had only been two weeks since I graduated from high school and I was convinced now that it was summer I’d have more options for a boyfriend.

“I just don’t get it,” I complained. “Sara Jennings has a great guy and she is awful.”

“You just have to be patient, Kel. It’s not like you haven’t had your share of dates,” my friend Michelle assured me, “Besides, you’re only eighteen.”

Michelle was right. It wasn’t for the lack of trying; it just seemed all the wrong guys clung to me like lint on velvet. I went through all of the stereotypes: the jock focused only on his next score; the quiet boy that couldn’t open up; I even dated a nerd that spoke in sexual innuendos. I was ready for a real boyfriend, somebody I could be serious with.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Michelle said, pointing in the direction I was staring. “Him?”

“What?” I smiled, taking another sip from my soda.

“No offense, but you do know he’s totally out of your league,” Michelle replied. I just ignored her and kept staring in his direction, admiring his short, dark hair. His eyes had a piercing blue quality that reminded me of the blue in the ocean. His casual demeanor showed in his flip flops, grey t-shirt and black and grey board shorts that hung low on his hips as he prepared to start the wave machine.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I said, meeting Michelle’s gaze. “But, I bet he’d be interested if he knew my awesomely charming personality.” I grinned.

“Is that a challenge?” Michelle snickered. “You wanna make a bet?”

I just laughed and shook my head. “Um, no,” I said flatly. “I wouldn’t even know where to begin.”

“It’s not like you have anything to lose,” Michelle teased. “You don’t start your yoga training for another three months anyways.”

I replied wistfully, “But he doesn’t even know I exist.” I looked toward him as he continued to ready the machine and talk to the crowd that had gathered. He yelled for the people to form a line – his voice deep, sexy and made me flush at the sound of it.

“That is what it looks like, isn’t it?” Michelle said dryly, looking in the same direction as me.

“Besides,” I explained, “he probably has a ton of girls throwing themselves at him.” I sighed and looked down to my lap disappointed at my own lack of confidence.

Michelle looked at the guy again and said, “C’mon Kel, do you see how hot he is?” She lifted one of her perfectly shaped eyebrows. “Three months,” Michelle said, looking back towards me, smiling softly.

“Three months for what?” I asked, meeting her gaze.

“The bet. You have that much time to get him to date you,” Michelle replied smugly. “You can call it the three month plan.”

“You’re serious about that?” I laughed, but was cut short when I realized Michelle was serious. My expression quickly faded to a dull stare.

“I wish you could see your expression right now.” Michelle chuckled.

I paused at the silence, contemplating the challenge as I gazed in his direction. He was smiling to his latest customer who had entered the restaurant and climbed in line for the machine. Michelle had a point. I planned on making this a summer to remember. I wasn’t enrolled in college this fall since I had decided to take a year off before starting. And the yoga teacher training program didn’t begin until four months from now. “You know,” I replied with a newfound confidence, “I think that’s perfect.”

Michelle’s mouth fell open in surprise that all her prodding worked. “So in three months you will have landed him is what you are saying?” Michelle asked in disbelief.

“Yeah. One way or another,” I laughed. “I’m gonna’ do, wear, and say everything that I would imagine a guy like that would want me to do.”

Michelle grinned. “You’re crazy. A guy like that is gonna’ want you wearing nothing.”

“Very funny, Michelle.” I playfully slapped her hands from across the table. “But since you were so instrumental in creating this bet, I am going to need your help.”

“I was just kidding,” Michelle laughed. “Why am I getting dragged into this? You should ask Brian to help you.”

“Well, you certainly encouraged it,” I responded and looked at the guy again. “But you’re right, how else am I going to get into his head, without some guy’s input?”

“I’m sure his head isn’t the only place you want to get in to,” Michelle smiled. “Virginity is overrated anyways.”

My face flushed, “You’re a bad influence, and you know that, right? I’m not going to sleep with him.” I must admit my mind did have a tendency to drift to such things. I’d never allowed the guys I’ve dated get very far with me, but watching him had me fantasizing of pressing against his lean body.

“Of course. But you still love me anyways.” She grinned.

“Yes, yes I do. But that may change after this whole three month plan is over.” I cocked my head to the side sarcastically.

“Well, you had better get started then,” Michelle said. “And your first step might be getting rid of what looks like competition.” She lifted her head and looked behind me.

I turned my head slowly to see him casually talking with what looked to be a supermodel. She twirled her naturally curly long blonde hair around her perfectly manicured pink nails, while batting her lashes up at him. Her low cut, cleavage revealing top left little to the imagination as she pressed her chest against his. She was thin, leggy, and annoying already even though I had never met her. “Uhm,” Brian cleared his throat, startling me. “Do you want any more drinks?” He arched his eyebrow at me, and I realized I had been scowling. I swear he was meant to be a spy the way he seemed to sneak up on us. Brian was my oldest friend, and before we were friends I had a huge crush on him. He never knew, and I was too afraid to tell him and ruin our friendship. Now he was more like a brother to me, although a much cuter brother than I imagined I’d have. Brian worked here part time as a server. It was yet another reason we came here. He always gave us a great discount.

“Brian, thank God you’re here,” Michelle hurriedly said, “Do you know who that guy is over there talking to that girl?”

“Who, the new guy?” Brian replied, motioning the direction of the hot guy as Michelle nodded. “Oh, that’s Jake; he just started two weeks ago.”

Michelle looked at me and smiled.

“Jake,” I mouthed, a slight smile turning up my lip on one side.

Brian just laughed, “Sorry, girls. You might wanna’ get in line for that one. You see that blonde girl he’s talking to? That’s his girlfriend.” He nodded toward the Amazon girl. “And you see all those other girls in line. Well, let’s just say they aren’t in line for the machine.”

Horses were one of my first loves, and writing soon followed. As a child, I spent hours writing poems, and short stories (about horses). My parents realized that I was horse-obsessed and decided to buy me one after taking riding lessons for two years. I think they hoped that all of the hard work, and hours spent mucking stalls would help me give up this expensive hobby. They were wrong. Writing is still a passion of mine, although now I primarily write fiction. My first novel, Red Rock, was published in 2010, and big surprise, there are horses in it. My second novel, The Three Month Plan was released August 2013.

Other Loves: My family, yoga, skincare and makeup, sushi, and raising money for pediatric cancer. I have two rescue dogs and would have more if there weren't zoning restrictions. I’m always trying something new, as I tend to get bored very easily. Thankfully, my love of driving around with the gas light on fuels some excitement. I love novels with happy endings, and am a hopeful romantic. My latest obsession is browsing Netflix, and I can name all 50 states in alphabetical order in under 30 seconds. Do I feel a wager coming on?